G/SPS/N/SAU/451  
 
29 April 2021  
(21-3661) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Food products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Process for Approving Foreign Competent Control 
Authorities and Establishments Interested in Exporting Food Products to the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia (KSA) . Language(s):  Arabic . Number of pages:  29 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/SPS/SAU/21_3136_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This draft document applies to verify the procedures carried out 
by the competent control authority responsible for food safety in countries interested in 
exporting food products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and clarifies the procedure for 
approving fo reign establishments and the inspection fee. This step paves the way for 
assigning the competent authority the responsibility of approving the establishments 
interested in exporting food products to Saudi market.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safet y, [ ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Comm ission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   G/SPS/N/SAU/451  
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 28 June 2021  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National E nquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, Ext. 3158  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 982 5 
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, Ext. 3158  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa  
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa